Figure A1

Panel Ai: Distribution across top10 topicsPanel Aii: Distribution across top10 topics, notices only

Panel Aiii: Distribution across top10 topics, proposed rules onlyPanel Aiv: Distribution across top10 topics, rules only

Figure A2

Panel A: Topics with greatest overall decrease or increase, over sample periodTopics with highest increase:

Topic Label Words 1995 Words 2019 Abs Change % Change
41 Exp/Imp: Transport & Marine Animals 62,164 419,219 357,055 574%
23 Health: insurance 67,467 398,078 330,611 490%
7 Env: data & studies 152,173 400,818 248,645 163%

Topics with highest decrease:

Topic Label Words 1995 Words 2019 Abs Change % Change
18 Claims 621,714 185,605 -436,109 -70%
37 Flood insur: naviga 296,645 172,487 -124,158 -42%
79 Aviation Safety: inspection 154,147 57,095 -97,052 -63%

Figure A3

Panel B: Topics with biggest change around 2016 presidential electionPanel C: Topics with biggest change around 2008-09 financial crisis

Figure A4: Time-series Trends in Agencies

Panel A: Agencies with greatest overall decrease or increase, over sample period

Agencies with highest increase:

Agency Label Words 1995 Words 2019 Abs Change % Change
securities and exchange commission SEC 639,490 1,883,208 1,243,718 194%
department of health and human services DHHS 900,503 1,902,242 1,001,739 111%
department of commerce Commerce 771,123 1,343,368 572,245 74%

Agencies with highest decrease:

Agency Label Words 1995 Words 2019 Abs Change % Change
department of agriculture USDA 763,756 331,946 -431,810 -57%
department of housing and urban developm HUD 447,571 125,876 -321,695 -72%
department of energy DOE 591,957 379,722 -212,235 -36%

Panel B: Agencies with biggest change around 2016 presidential electionPanel C: Agencies with biggest change around 2008-09 financial crisis